Praggnanandhaa’s Absence from Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour Despite Recent Victory

R Praggnanandhaa, the 2025 Tata Steel Chess champion, will not be competing in the first round of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Germany this month. Despite his recent victory over World Champion D Gukesh in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, Praggnanandhaa failed to qualify through Freestyle’s online qualification tournament, resulting in his exclusion from the inaugural event.

The Freestyle Tour, organized by German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner and supported by Magnus Carlsen, will feature the Chess960 variant of the game, also known as the Fischer Random Variant. This format randomizes the placement of back-rank pieces, adding a new level of unpredictability to the game.

While Praggnanandhaa will be absent from the tournament, Gukesh D will represent India as the sole flagbearer in Germany. Gukesh earned his spot in the tournament after defeating China’s Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship final last year.

The Freestyle Tour will consist of five legs, starting in Germany and then moving to Paris, New York City, New Delhi, and Cape Town. The tournament promises to showcase top-level chess in a unique and exciting format, challenging players to adapt to the unconventional rules of Chess960.

Despite his absence from the first round, Praggnanandhaa’s recent victory at the Tata Steel Chess Masters has solidified his reputation as a rising star in the world of chess. Fans will be eagerly awaiting his return to competitive play and hoping to see him showcase his skills on the international stage once again.